Drama1979–1988ITV1

The Best Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected

Every episode of Tales of the Unexpected ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected!

Best episode
S3E1 The Flypaper
8.1633 votes
Worst episode
S7E8 Wet Saturday
4.5214 votes
Top season
Season 3
6.9avg
Binge time
1d 23h
112 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons9

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 1 - The Flypaper
    8.1/10(633 votes)

    S3:E1

    With a 12-year-old found dead and a killer perhaps on the loose, a young girl becomes paranoid.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writers:Elizabeth Taylor, Robin Chapman

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  2. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 9 - A Harmless Vanity
    7.6/10(335 votes)

    S5:E9

    When Mary learns her husband is having an affair, she invites her rival to a beach party.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jeremy Paul

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  3. Tales of the Unexpected Season 9 Episode 1 - Skeleton in the Cupboard
    7.5/10(267 votes)

    S9:E1

    Robert Smythe is a ruthless executive with a dangerous twenty year old secret. An echo from the past prompts him into a new cover up of the truth, but his wife becomes suspicious.

    Director:Paul Annett
    Writer:Tony Wilmot

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  4. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 1 - The Man From the South
    7.3/10(756 votes)

    S1:E1

    A young American couple on holiday meet a mysterious old gentleman who makes them a macabre wager.

    Director:Michael Tuchner
    Writer:Kevin Goldstein-Jackson

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  5. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 3 - Operation Safecrack
    7.4/10(282 votes)

    S5:E3

    In an attempt to prove their safes are impregnable, a company challenges ex-safebreaker Sam to crack one for a cash prize. But are his skills sharp enough?

    Director:Alan Gibson
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  6. Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 7 - The Stinker
    7.3/10(333 votes)

    S3:E7

    When millionaire Jack runs into Harold, a boy he bullied at school, he gives him a job. But Harold soon suspects his wife of having an affair with his new boss.

    Director:Alan Gibson
    Writer:Julian Bond

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Tales of the Unexpected

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  7. Tales of the Unexpected Season 9 Episode 4 - The Verger
    7.3/10(263 votes)

    S9:E4

    When devoted verger Albert is forced to resign, he sets out to build a new life. But can he succeed in a modern world that has little time for his old-fashioned ways?

    Director:Rodney Bennett
    Writer:Denis Cannan

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  8. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 4 - Lamb to the Slaughter
    7.2/10(617 votes)

    S1:E4

    An enraged detective's wife kills her husband by smashing in his skull with a heavy blunt instrument - but no murder weapon can be found, and the police are baffled.

    Director:John Howard Davies
    Writers:Robin Chapman, Roald Dahl

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  9. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 5 - The Landlady
    7.2/10(605 votes)

    S1:E5

    When a young man arrives in Bath, he is shocked to find his seemingly charming landlady has a dark side.

    Director:Herbert Wise
    Writers:Robin Chapman, Roald Dahl

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  10. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 4 - The Hitch-Hiker
    7.2/10(438 votes)

    S2:E4

    When a driver picks up a hitch-hiker in his car, his journey turns into a thrilling ride.

    Director:Alastair Reid
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  11. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 7 - Taste
    7.2/10(430 votes)

    S2:E7

    A dinner party takes a surprising turn when one pretentious guest is challenged to a wine tasting contest.

    Director:Alastair Reid
    Writers:Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl

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  12. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 2 - Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat
    7.1/10(586 votes)

    S1:E2

    Unable to show her dentist husband, Cyril, the fur coat her lover has given her, Mrs Bixby pawns it and pretends that she found the ticket.

    Director:Simon Langton
    Writers:Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl

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  13. Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 6 - Parson's Pleasure
    7.1/10(320 votes)

    S3:E6

    Cyril makes a profitable living as a rogue antiques dealer, but when he buys a farmer’s valuable furniture item, his luck may be about to run out.

    Director:John Bruce
    Writer:Ronald Harwood

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  14. Tales of the Unexpected Season 3 Episode 8 - I'll Be Seeing You
    7.1/10(289 votes)

    S3:E8

    When Roland leaves his cruel, millionairess wife Vivien for a fresh start with his mistress Anna, the snubbed spouse plans to make his life a living hell.

    Director:Philip Dudley
    Writer:Julian Bond

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  15. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 2 - The Eavesdropper
    7.1/10(281 votes)

    S5:E2

    Moira hears a woman discussing a trip to Paris with her lover Donald. Is her husband, also called Donald, having an affair?

    Director:John Gorrie
    Writer:Robin Chapman

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  16. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 4 - The Best of Everything
    7.1/10(273 votes)

    S4:E4

    Desperate to win the affections of his boss’s daughter, Arthur accepts the help of his friend Charlie. But is he ready to count the true cost of love?

    Director:John Bruce
    Writer:Denis Cannan

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  17. Tales of the Unexpected Season 8 Episode 3 - Nothin' Short of Highway Robbery
    7.1/10(245 votes)

    S8:E3

    On a long drive through the desert, a couple get their car serviced and are handed an extortionate bill. But they plan on turning the tables.

    Director:John Peyser
    Writer:Luther Murdoch

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  18. Tales of the Unexpected Season 1 Episode 9 - The Way Up to Heaven
    7.0/10(443 votes)

    S1:E9

    Mrs Foster exacts an intriguing revenge on her husband after his dawdling causes her to miss a flight.

    Director:Simon Langton
    Writers:Ronald Harwood, Roald Dahl

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  19. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 11 - The Umbrella Man
    7.0/10(361 votes)

    S2:E11

    A con man arrives in town and starts his scam.

    Director:Claude Whatham
    Writer:Ronald Harwood

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  20. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 14 - Back for Christmas
    7.0/10(334 votes)

    S2:E14

    A philandering physician with an obsession for orchids cultivates a deadly plot to see off his wife.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:John Collier, Denis Cannan

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  21. Tales of the Unexpected Season 5 Episode 5 - Stranger in Town
    7.0/10(317 votes)

    S5:E5

    A stranger arrives in town and soon endears himself to the local community – although his motives prove sinister.

    Director:Wendy Toye
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 6 - Shatterproof
    7.0/10(280 votes)

    S4:E6

    Property tycoon Gerry Williams is married to the beautiful but unhappy Ellen, and somewhere the marriage has gone terribly wrong. Then an assassin is hired to kill Gerry, and he makes the mistake of getting too friendly with his target.

    Director:John Jacobs
    Writer:Pat Hoddinott

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  23. Tales of the Unexpected Season 6 Episode 4 - Clerical Error
    7.0/10(240 votes)

    S6:E4

    While winding up his late father's affairs, Paul finds a bill demanding over £1,000 for pornography.

    Director:Graham Evans
    Writer:Peter Ransley

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  24. Tales of the Unexpected Season 2 Episode 6 - Fat Chance
    6.9/10(350 votes)

    S2:E6

    The husband of a fat, greedy woman has a clever plan to get rid of her - but the plan is flawed.

    Director:John Gorrie
    Writer:Denis Cannan

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  25. Tales of the Unexpected Season 4 Episode 17 - Hijack
    6.9/10(254 votes)

    S4:E17

    A hijacker on an aeroplane takes a stewardess hostage before demanding a million dollars and a parachute. Will the captain give in to his demands?

    Director:Herbert Wise
    Writer:Denis Cannan

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Flypaper" is the best rated episode of Tales of the Unexpected. It scored 8.1/10 from 633 votes. Directed by Graham Evans and written by Elizabeth Taylor, Robin Chapman, it aired on August 9, 1980. This episode scored 0.5 points higher than the second highest rated, "A Harmless Vanity".

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